Summary
A'Sharqiyah University is seeking a Research Assistant for a project investigating the sources and causes of construction waste in Oman and assessing Industry 4.0 technologies as possible solutions. The assistant will conduct literature reviews, support stakeholder interviews and surveys, prepare and analyze data, and assist with AHP prioritization. The role also includes preparing research reports and presentations, maintaining confidential research records, and coordinating with the project team. A bachelor's or master's degree in civil engineering, construction management, environmental engineering, or a related field is required; research experience is desirable but not essential.
The posting
As published on asu.edu.om. Pulled from the employer's site and shown as they wrote it.
Job Function
The Research Assistant will support a research project investigating the sources and causes of construction waste in Oman and evaluating Industry 4.0 technologies as potential waste management solutions. The role includes literature review, stakeholder engagement, expert interviews, questionnaire development, survey administration, data processing, and assistance with Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) analysis to prioritize waste factors and technological remedies. The assistant will also contribute to project documentation, research reports, and dissemination activities.
Responsibilities
- Conduct literature reviews on construction waste management, waste minimization, sustainability, and Industry 4.0 applications in construction.
- Assist in identifying and documenting major sources and causes of construction waste in Oman.
- Review the potential of BIM, artificial intelligence, Internet of Things (IoT), automation, and data analytics for construction waste reduction.
- Help plan and coordinate structured interviews with engineers, contractors, project managers, and other relevant industry stakeholders.
- Assist in designing research questionnaires, organizing pilot testing, and refining survey instruments based on feedback.
- Support survey distribution, respondent follow-up, and accurate collection, cleaning, coding, and organization of data.
- Assist with AHP pairwise-comparison data preparation, consistency checks, calculation of priorities, and interpretation of ranked factors and solutions under supervision.
- Prepare tables, figures, progress updates, technical reports, presentations, and draft material for journal or conference publications.
- Maintain organized research records and support ethical handling and confidentiality of participant data.
- Coordinate project tasks with the Principal Investigator and research team to meet agreed milestones.
Experience
- Experience in academic research, construction-related projects, environmental management, or data collection is desirable but not essential.
- Familiarity with questionnaires, interviews, survey analysis, or multi-criteria decision-making methods such as AHP is an advantage.
- Fresh graduates with strong academic performance and a demonstrated interest in research are encouraged to apply.
Skills
The candidate must have the following skills and attributes:
- Good analytical, critical-thinking, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to organize and analyze survey data; proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word.
- Familiarity with statistical software or AHP tools (e.g., Excel-based AHP calculations or Expert Choice) is an advantage.
- Good academic writing, reporting, and English communication skills.
- Ability to communicate professionally with construction industry stakeholders.
- Ability to work independently and collaboratively, with attention to detail and deadlines.
- Commitment to research ethics, data confidentiality, and quality.
Qualification
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Environmental Engineering, or a closely related discipline from a recognized university.
- Basic understanding of construction processes, construction waste management, or sustainable construction practices.
- Awareness of Industry 4.0 technologies in construction (e.g., BIM, AI, IoT) is desirable.